Batting

WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- The Tennessee Tech softball team swept its
games Saturday on the first day of the KSU Classic, with victories
over Liberty and Mercer. The Golden Eagle offense was strong,
finishing the day with 13 runs on 20 hits.

Sophomore Taylor
Ketchum (3-0) picked up her third win of the season, remaining
undefeated as she allowed just one run in Tech's 3-1 win over
Mercer. Senior Claudia Harke (1-1) also earned her first victory of
the 2013 season, after relieving Erica Tuck in the fourth inning
against Liberty as the Golden Eagles posted a 10-3 victory in eight
innings.

Led by a combined 13 hits from the Tech offense, the Golden
Eagles began the KSU Classic with an seven-run, extra-inning
victory over Liberty University at Twin Creeks Park Satruday
morning. Tech was led by senior centerfielder Melody
Christian who went 5-for-8 in the two games along with four
stolen bases. Madison Taylor added four hits.

The Golden Eagles offense was subdued until the thrid inning,
trailing Liberty 1-0.

In the circle, sophomore Erica Tuck got
the start, but Harke came
on in the middle of the fourth inning with two outs and got a
strikeout to end the inning. Harke gave up the tying run in the
fifth but stranded two runners in scoring position the rest of the
contest to get the win.

Junior Kayla Floyd
jump-started the offense with a bunt down the third base line.
Christian followed suit at the next at bat. Chanelle
Spalding and Kendall
Hooper passed go thanks to back-to-back walks, allowing Floyd
to score and allowing Chelsea
Burgess to step to the plate with the bases loaded. Burgess hit
a sacrifice fly to right field that sent Christian home, giving
Tech a 2-1 lead.

Tech scored one more as freshman Madison
Taylor sent a tough ball up the middle allowing Chanelle
Spalding to cross the plate.

Liberty scored one in the bottom of the thrid and the tying run
in the bottom of the fifth. Tech was able to dull the Flames and
force extra innings. The Purple and Gold exploded in the top of the
eighth, collecting five hits and seven runs, forcing a new Liberty
pitcher to take the field. Liberty's Friesen would close out the
game, as all but two Golden Eagles scored.

Harke worked a one-two-three inning to secure the win.

Immediately following their first game, the Golden Eagles rushed
over to take on the Mercer University Bears. Ketchum opened the
game with two perfect innings, striking out two of the first three
batters she faced, retiring the first six bears in the lineup.

Christian scored Tech's first run in the bottom of the first
inning, thanks to Taylor's single up the middle. Christian scored
Tech's eventual winning run in the bottom of the fifth when Taylor
singled up the middle. Kendall Hooper was Tech's other scorer in
the fifth, racing home on a passed ball.

It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth inning that the Bears
scored as Randi Rea knocked a solo home run.

The Golden Eagles return to action Sunday as they face Ball
State at 9:30 a.m. and host Kennesaw State at 2:30 p.m.